The Var experienced significant gusts of wind this Monday. Peaks of 160 km/h were recorded in Saint-Mandrier-sur-Mer. In Carqueiranne, much damage was noted and homes were deprived of electricity. A return to normal is expected this Tuesday.
Gusts of 160km/h were recorded this Monday, December 23 in Saint-Mandrier-sur-Mer, in the Var.
The department is placed on yellow alert for “wind” until Tuesday morning, according to Météo France. In the commune of Carqueiranne in particular, much damage has been reported.
At the La Californie subdivision, two tree stumps were completely uprooted and many trees were lying on the ground. Until 2 p.m., residents were stuck in their homes. A crisis unit was triggered by the town hall. Municipal teams and tree pruners were hard at work throughout the town.
“My solar panels have completely flown away, the perimeter of my roof the same. The telephone line has been completely cut by a huge branch. There are a few branches which still threaten to fall on the garden,” says Mathieu Ferrary, a resident of the housing estate, at the microphone of BFM Toulon-Var.
“No neighborhood has been spared”
The mayor of the town had never seen winds of such violence. “All the neighborhoods were affected, none was spared. This is something that I had never experienced, already as mayor, but as a simple citizen who has lived in the town for almost 47 years today. 'today', says Arnaud Latil, mayor (SE) of Carqueiranne.
Other damage was reported on the Giens peninsula and in Hyeres. Around 2 p.m., nearly 1,500 homes in the department were still without electricity.
The wind is expected to blow again tonight with peaks above 100km/h locally, before returning to normal this Tuesday.
Jasmine Bousquet with Emma Forton
